SW Radio Africa (London)
Tichaona Sibanda
11 November 2008
Politics analysts, activists and the media in the Southern African region have reacted with shock and outrage to the SADC ruling that says the MDC must co-share the Home Affairs Ministry with ZANU PF.
Isaac Dziya, a political analyst, said the SADC ruling was a travesty of justice for Zimbabweans and makes the region a laughing stock of the world. He said the notion that the MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai should be satisfied with 'sharing' the Home Affairs Ministry, while Mugabe controls the security forces, is preposterous.
'You just wonder to yourself if these heads of state have access to television, the internet or newspapers or they've missed the bloodshed, which has been ongoing for the last eight years under Robert Mugabe,' Dziya said.
Eli Jikelele, writing a commentary in the South African Mail and Guardian, said he hoped that Tsvangirai has the strength to call Kgalema Motlanthe's bluff - he is the chair of SADC in his role of President of South Africa.
'Zimbabwe is already down the tubes and the MDC will have no card left to play if they acquiesce to Motlanthe and the other 'heads' of the SADC to share the Home Affairs portfolio. The MDC should simply put its foot down and threaten to withdraw from the 'unity' government unless their demands are met to be the sole controllers of this important ministry. If they fail to do this, the MDC will continue to be hounded and arrested by the police and corrupt security services of Mad Bob (Mugabe),' Jikelele said.
MDC MP for Makoni Central, John Nyamande, told us sharing the portfolio will only mean that Mugabe will exercise full control of the ministry and when things go wrong, he will apportion at least half of the blame on the MDC.
Nyamande described the SADC ruling as shocking and that it had left him shattered to think that the regional bloc would allow Mugabe to continue to dictate terms, when the MDC was the victor in the March elections.
Wellington Chibebe, secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, accused the SADC leadership of adopting dictatorial tendencies by ordering co-sharing of the Home Affairs ministry.
In a statement Chibebe said the regional leaders have shown they are an 'Old Boys' association that stands by any leader in office and ignores the opposition.
'SADC has no authority in imposing its SADC cabinet on Zimbabwe as the whole process, though flawed, was all about negotiations. It would seem the region is failing to understand the problem of the people of Zimbabwe,' Chibebe said.
He added the bait being dangled by SADC, if swallowed, would be unfortunate for the majority of Zimbabweans as this arrangement 'does not and will never reflect the will of the people of Zimbabwe.'
The Congress of South African Trade Unions issued a statement fully supporting the ZCTU. They said that SADC leaders had failed to find a settlement that reflected the democratic will of the people of Zimbabwe, as reflected in the results of the 29 March elections. The COSATU statement added that SADC was 'trying to maintain a defeated dictator in power in defiance of the popular will'. They also said that they stand ready to act in solidarity with Zimbabweans struggle for democracy and human rights.
Political commentator Liberty Mpakati added his anger to the growing disillusionment against the SADC leaders, describing them as a 'bunch of thugs.' He pointed out it was clear that nobody in region, with the exception of Botswana, can be relied upon to stand by the MDC cause.
'Whatever decision the MDC makes now, its going to be fundamental. There is hope they will dig in their heels and not cave in to SADC and Mugabe if they want to save Zimbabwe,' Mpakati said.
Another analyst, Glen Mpani, said SADC's mandate on Sunday had been simple. They needed to deal with the impasse between the parties regarding the allocation of cabinet posts in a manner that would not only break the deadlock but would achieve sufficient universal acceptance to restore investment. Mpani said the leaders needed to be reminded that Tsvangirai and the MDC won the election in the first place.
While Tsvangirai rejected the SADC ruling outright, Arthur Mutambara, leader of the breakaway MDC faction said: "We went to SADC for a ruling. We didn't want a situation where the ministry would be co-shared, but integrity says we can't go against 15 heads of state. We must respect the decision taken by the SADC as a matter of principle'.
He told journalists it would be 'unstrategic' to go to war with 15 heads of state but dismissed speculation that he would join Mugabe in forming a government that excluded Tsvangirai.
The state media reported on Tuesday that Mugabe looked set to push ahead with forming a new government, now that 'SADC had given him the mandate.'
Mugabe told the Herald a new government would be put in place 'maybe this week, maybe next week, but as soon as possible.' Meanwhile the mouthpiece of the regime unleashed yet another round of attack on Tsvangirai, advising Mugabe that it was time to stop 'indulging' the MDC leader.
The Herald also accused Tsvangirai of delaying the power-sharing agreement, and called on Mugabe to say 'enough is enough'.
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Enough. Now that everyone is this mad and cheering, let the dancing lunatic dance on and on till he hangs himself and his party. Would be quite funny if it did't involve people's lives.
Mugabe's advisers appear to be at Herald House pathetic, pane chingabude apa itayi tione. I wish to quote the Herald - The Herald also accused Tsvangirai of delaying the power-sharing agreement, and called on Mugabe to say 'enough is enough'. 28 years gone by we know Mugabe and we have much experience hapana chinobuda ndo pika na Chirumhazu. Asi riri Diesel reChinhoyi?
mugabe is stuck, im loving it, anoziva kuti hapana kwaachaenda. I respect the MDC for remaining bold on this issue. Kana vachida kutonga vega, vasiyeyi tione, hapana chinobuda, ko sei vachinetseka nekuda signature ya President Tsvangirai kana vachizvigona vega?!!!!!! regauone, chero masoja achamama, siyauone, rega hako.
This Zimbabwe saga just shows the vanity of corrupt African leadership knows no depths. Or does Africa really have leaders worth mention ? Where are the Mandelas, the Nyereres, the Kaundas ? This idiocy is totally unacceptable. I say shame on the current spineless SADC leadership.